Cutting-machine



J. M. NORTON.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH, 1920.

1,377,52 1 9. Patented May 10, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fix/522257 @7272 777. 72075072 7 WMW I J. M. NORTON.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY14.1920.

Patented May 10 1921. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. M. NORTON.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI4.1920.

Jain 777 77 7972 W Patented May 10, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 7 avg/2%? J.IM. NORTON.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. 1920.

' 1,377,219. P ented May 10,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W, m 2 awa- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. NORTON, OF FORT DODGE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PLYMOUTH GYPSUM 00., OF FORT DODGE, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

CUTTING-MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed May 14, 1920. Serial 1%. 381,233.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jon: M. NORTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fort Dodge, in the county of Webster and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutting- Machines, of which the following 1s a speclfication.

This invention relates to improvements in cutting machines, and more particularly to cutting machines designed for the purpose of cutting continuous sheets of plaster board, fiber board, or materials of like character, into smaller sheets of desired length.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine capable of producing sheets of various lengths, and a further object of the machine is to provide mechanism whereby the length of the sheets may be readily varied.

The structure of the machine, and the means employed for varying the length of the sheets produced thereby, is hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the complete machine,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section through the sheet cutting mechanism, as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section as taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the rotative cutter bars, driving gears, and other parts associated therewith, in side elevation,

Fig. 4 is an enlargid view in longitudinal section through the s eet cutting mechanism and adjacent parts, as taken on line 4-4 0 Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view in vertical section showing the sto motion mechanism as taken on line 55 0 Fig. 1,

.Fig. 6 is a detailed view in horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the cutter blades.

Referring to the general structural features of the machine, the same is supported upon a frame, preferably consisting of vertical uprights and beams of wood or steel, as desired, the frame of machine herein illustrated consisting of vertical uprights or studs 1-1, horizontal beams 2--2 elevated a short distance above the floor level, and overhead horizontal that portion of the beams 3-3 extending between the end studs 1-1. Additional cross beams 4-4 and short lugs 5-5 extending downwardly from the lower beam 2 provide additional support and r1g1d1ty to the frame, as would commonly be present in a structure of this character. 7

Supported upon the lower beam 2 is the sheet feeding mechanism consisting of endless belts 6-6 supported at their ends u on pulleys 77 which are mounted upon pu ley shafts 88 journaled at their ends in bearmgs 9-9 bolted to the beam 2. As illustrated in the drawings, and as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the adjacent ends of two separate feeding belts are shown, the opposite ends of each belt extending beyond that portion of the machine illustrated, it being understood that the parts not shown are similar in every respect to the parts'illustrated. Intermediate the ends of each material feeding or conveying device, is mounted a seriesof transversely extending guide rollers 10 which serve to support the belts 6-6 intermediate the end pulleys 7-7.- These guide rollers are j ournaled at their ends in longitudinally extending frames 11--11 supported upon the beam 2 immediately below the upper lead 'of the conveyer belts 6-6. The material in the form of a continuous sheet, as at 12, is deleft by the movement of the belt as it is carried over the end pulley 7, there being provided suitable driving mechanism connected with one of the pulley shafts 8 for positively driving the conveyor belts.

Referring now to the cutting mechanian, the same is located intermediate the adjacent ends of the two conveying devices, and more particularly within the space separating the adjacent belt pulleys 7-7. The cuttin mechanism comprises two rotative cutter ars 13 and 14. mounted in vertical alinement with each other, and extending'transversely of the machine frame, and likewise of the path of the material. The ends of the cutter bars, which are in reality rotative shafts, are journaled adjacent their extremities in journal blocks 1515 and 16-16, the journal blocks 1515 being associated with the upper cutter bar 13, and the lower journal blocks being similarly associated w1th the lower cutter bar 1 f. As a preferable construction, the lower journal blocks 16-16 are bolted in fixed position to the horizontal beams 2-2, integral therewith vertical standards 17-17 havlng a central slot formed thereon between which is slidably mounted the journal blocks 15-15. A plate 18 extends across the upper end of each standard 17, and between each plate and the associated journal block 15 is mounted a coil compression sprin 19, as clearly shown in Fig.4. Keyed to eac cutter bar is a plurality of sleeves 20, having integral arms 21 provided with endwise opening slots in which are screwed by means of bolts 22 cutting blades 23-23, these blades projecting a short distance beyond the ends of the arms 21, and provided along their edges with cutting teeth formed as shown in-Fi'g. 7, these teeth having much the appearance of the teeth of a saw. The cutting blades are so mounted upon the out ter bars as to occupy the same angular relation to the horizontal at all times, so that if the cutter bars are rotated at the same rate of speed, the cutter bars will come together when they occupy a position in the vertical planeof the cutter bars, and assuming a sheet of material 12 is fed between the cutter bars, an incision will be made throughout the width of the sheet during each revolution of said cutter bars, the length separatin the incisions being determined by the relative speed of rotation of the cutter bars and the rate of speed of the material being fed between said bars. The cutter bars 13 and 14 are connected together by intermeshing gear wheels 24 and 25 re spectively, these gear wheels being of the same pitch diameter, thereby effecting a uniform speed of rotation of the bars. Furthermore, these gear wheels are mounted at the respective ends of the I cutter bars; namely, at the right hand side of the machine, as shown in Fi 2, and outside of the vertical standard 1%. It is to be noted at this point that the lower cutter bar projects a short distance beyond its associated gear wheel 25, and that there are other members mounted at the extreme end, as will hereinafter be further pointed out.

It is manifest that if the cutter bars were rotated at a uniform speed, and that if the 7 material were fed between the cutter bars at a uniform speed, that the material would be severed into separate sheets of a uniform length. In other words, at each revolution of the cutter bars, a sheet would be severed from the continuousstrip of material, and this length would be constant so long as the relative speed of rotation of the cutter bars and the speed of the material remained uniform. It is also manifest that in order to vary the length of the sheets of the material, that either the speed of rotation of the cutter bars must be varied, the speed of the,

and have formedmaterial remaining constant, or, the speed or rate of movement of the material be changed and the speed of rotation of the cutter bars remaining constant.

Assuming now that it. is desired to vary the speed of rotation of the cutter bars, it

is apparent that this may be done by increasing or decreasing the pitch diameter of the gear member which drives one or the other of said cutter bars, it being assumed that this gear member is to be driven at a unlform speed. To make this adjustment would obviously necessitate the use of a large number 0 gear members, and further, in'order to provide for the large range of sheet lengths, it would necessitate the use of gear members of such large size and diameter as to be impractical. For this reason It is proposed to maintain the same gear ratios throughout the cutter driving mechanlsm, and to introduce into the driving mechanism a novel type of stop motion mechanism whereby the desired range of sheet lengths may be obtained in a practical and efficient manner. This mechanism con- 1sists of parts located and functioning as folows:

Mounted preferably on one of the vertical uprights l and above the sheet feeding and cutting mechanism is a vertically arranged frame 26 consisting of spaced frame members which serve to support the journal bearings 27 and 28 of two gear members or friction pulleys 29 and 30 respectively, these members being keyed to shafts 31 and 32 which are journaled in the bearings 27 and 28 respectively. The uppermost gear member 29 is fixed, that is to say, its bearings 27-27 are permanently secured to the supportin frame 26, whereas the lower gear mem er 30 is capable of a degree of vertical adjustment in that the bearings 28-28 thereof are slidably mounted within the frame and are supported from beneath upon coil springs 33-33 which in turn rest upon transverse yokes 34-34, and u on adjustable blocks 35-35 provided with adjustlng screws 36-36 mounted within the yokes 34.34. Covering the face of the lower pulley is a layer or facing of material such as leather 37, this facing, as shown in Fig. 1, covering substantially three-quarters of the periphery of the pulley face, the remaining part of the periphery, which is included between the ends of the facing 37, being bare. The friction pulleys 29 and 30 are normally adjusted so that they have driving engagement with each other when the face of the upper pulley 29 is in contact with the faced portion 37 of the lower pulley 30, and similarly, these pulleys are disconnected when the bare or unfaced portion of the lower pulley is opposed to the face of the upper pulley 29. Of these two gear members or friction pulleys 29 and 30,

the upper one is positively driven through the medium of a sprocket chain 38 which engages a sprocket wheel 39 keyed to the shaft 31 of said pulley 29, and also engaging a sprocket wheel 40 mounted on one of the pulley shafts 8 of the sheet feeding mechanism. It is to be understood that the pulley I shaft 8 is positively driven through suitable driving mechanism, and therefore it may be said that while the machine is In operation, the gear member 29 is positively driven at a uniform speed. The lower friction pulley 30 has driving connection directly with the cutting mechanism through the medium of a sprocket chain 41 which engages a sprocket wheel 42 keyed to the shaft 32 of the pulley 30, and at its other end-engages a slightly larger sprocket wheel 43 keyed to the upper cutter bar 13. As thus described, it will be seen that the cutting mechanism is driven from the sheet feeding mechanism, there being interposed between the same the friction pulleys 29 and 30.

In addition to the parts already described as constituting the sto motion mechanism, another mechanism, w ich may be termed the slow motion gearing, is introduced, and which will be understood from the followmg:

Mounted on the overhead beam is a pair of horizontally spaced cone pulleys 44-44,

these pulleys being reversed ,as to the inclination of their faces so that the end of maximum diameter of one pulley is opposite the end of minimum diameter of the other pulley. A belt 45 passes around the cone pulleys 44-44, said belt belng shlftable along the faces of the cone pulley by means of a belt shifter 46 of the usual construction and equipped with a shifting lever 47. It is obvious that by this arrangement of cone pulleys, it is possible to vary the relative speeds of said pulleys by the shifting of the belt 45, the speed ratio being inversely proportional to the diameters of the pulleys at the points where they are engaged by the belt. Mounted on the shaft 48 of one of the cone pulleys; namely, the right hand pulley, as shown in Fig. 1, is mounted a sprocket wheel (not shown) which has positive driving connection with the upper friction pulley 29 through the medium of a sprocket chain 49 which engages a sprocket wheel 50 keyed to the shaft 31 of said friction pulley 29, it being observed from Fig. 5 that the shaft 31 is extended transversely to the opposite side of the machine and journaled in a bearing 51 fixed to the adjacent stud 1 of the machine frame. The other cone pulley 44; namely, the one on the left, is also provided with a sprocket wheel mounted on its shaft 48, said sprocket wheel carrying a sprocket chain 52 which engages another sprocket Wheel 53 of the same diameter and fixed to a a t 54 j uma e in. bea ings 55 mounted on the overhead beam 3 near the left hand end ofthe machine frame. Keyed to the shaft 54 is a larger sprocket wheel 56 having a diameter substantially .twice asgreat as the s rocket wheel 53 carried on the same sha t therewith. The sprocket wheel 56 in turn has driving engagement with still another sprocket wheel 57 of the same diameter which is loosely mounted uponthe lower cutter bar 14 of the cutting mechanism through the medium of a sprocket chain 58. As indicated, the sprocket wheel 57 is loosely mounted on the cutter bar 14, that is to say, it is free to rotate thereon and therefore, for convenience, may be termed an idler sprocket wheel. As a matter of fact, however, it is not freely rotative on the cutter bar 14, but only partially so by reason of the presence of the following members; namely, a collar 59 which is keyed to the cutter bar 14 intermediate the gear wheel 25 and the sprocket wheel 57, shown in Fig. 2. At the outer end of this collar is provided an annular flange,

from the face of which projects a lug 60 (Flg. 3). The sprocket wheel 57 is provided with a similar flange 61 havinga projecting lug 62 spaced at the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of the cutter bar 14 as the lug 60; therefore these lugs lie in the same concentric path, and moreover, since their belts overlap each other, they must necessarily be capable of engagement with each other.

Referring now to the mode of operation of the machine, and particularly the manner in which the stop motion and slow gearing mechanisms function, let it be assumed that the material 12 is being advanced along the endless belt 6 from right to left as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. Manifestly, the belt is moving in the same direction so that the pulley shaft 8 and the sprocket wheel mounted thereon is rotating in a counterclockwise direction. So also the sprocket wheel 40 drives the upper friction pulley 29 in the same direction.

Now, if the lower friction pulley 30 is in driving engagement with the upper pulley 29, it will be driven in a clockwise direction, this motion being transmitted to the upper cutter bar 13 through the sprocket wheels 42 and 43 and the sprocket chain 41. Thus the said cutter'bar 13 will rotate in a clockwise direction and the lower cutter bar in a counter-clockwise direction by reason of the drivshorter standards 17-17, the bristles thereof lyin in the path of the upper cutter blade, an serve to keep the cutting edge clean.

As has been before pointed out, the driving connection between the friction pulleys 29 and 30 is not a positive one, inasmuch as the lower pulley 30 will only be driven when the faced portion is in contact with the upper pulley 29. Thus assuming that the forward end of'the facing 37 is brought into contact with the upper pulley, it will be driven to say three-quarters of a revolution until the rear end of the facing 37 7 runs off the upper pulley and the said pulley 30 must then come to rest substantially in the position shown in Fig. 1. So also will the cutter bars come to rest inasmuch as the same are in positive driving connection with said pulley 30.

The purpose of the slow motion gearing is to reestablish frictional engagement between the pulleys 29 and 30 by rotating the driven pulley 30 through the arc necessary to bring forward the edge of "the faclng 37 into contact with the driving pulley 29. This is accomplished in the following manner:

Bearing in mind that the driving pulley 29 is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, rotation in the same direction. is successively transmitted tothe right hand cone pulley 44, thence to the left cone pulley 44, thence to the sprocket shaft 54 and. large sprocket wheel 53, and finally downward to the idler sprocket wheel 57 mounted on the lower cutter bar 14. Following through the several pulleys and sprocket wheels as regards their direction of rotation, it will be seen that the sprocket wheel 57 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, and in the same direction as the cutter bar 14 on which it is mounted. On the other hand, however, its speed of rotation is slower than the speed of rotation of the cutter bar, this difference in speed being determined by the pitch ratio of the sprocket wheels 53 and 56 mounted on the shaft 54, this ratio being hereinbefore expressed as one to two. Therefore, carrying out this ratio, the sprocket wheel 57 being of the same diameter as the sprocket wheel 56, will rotate at substantially one-half the speed of the cutter bar 14, this speed ratio being further made evident by the fact that gear ratios between the several intermediate sprocket wheels and pulleys is unity throughout.

Now let it be assumed that the machine is in operation and that the parts are rotating in the directions indicated by the arrows. As shown in Fig. 4, the cutter bars may be assumed to have made an incisionat A, and almost completed a revolution, and are about to come together to make the next incision. At this point, however, they must come to rest owing to the interruption in the driving mechanism due to the functioning of the stop mechanism, that is to say, the friction pulleys 29 and 30 have become disengaged for the reason that the driving pulley has run off of the facing 37 of the driven pulley 30, the latter coming to rest and the former continuing its rotation at the uniform speed. Upon the stoppage of the cutter bars it must be borne in mind that the sheet material continues to pass between the bars, and also that the slow gearing mechanism continues its operation. Therefore, during the period of rest, the idler sprocket wheel rotates upon the lower cutter bar 14 and the lug 62 carried thereby moves toward the stationary lug 60 carried by the cutter bar 14, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. It must be remembered, however, that the lug 62 approaches the lug 60 at a slow speed, so that a considerable period of time elapses before the former catches up with the latter and engages the same. Inasmuch as the sprocket wheel 57 and its lug 62 are positively driven the contact of the lug 62 with the lug 60, must result in a rotative movement of the cutter bar 14 in the same direction and at the slower speed. At the instant the cutter bar 14 begins to rotate, this movement is transmitted to the driven friction pulley 30, turning the same in a clockwise direction which brings the forward edge of the facing 37 thereof into driving engagement with the rotating driving pul ley 29. It follows, therefor, that normal driving engagement is again established and the cutter bars will continue to rotate through three-quarters of a revolution, when they will again come to rest and wait for the lug 62 to catch up with the lug 60 and the operation is completed.

.50 long as the belt 45 remains in the same position, it is manifest that the relative speeds of the several pulleys and sprocket wheels will remain constant, and the distance between the cuts will likewise remain uniform. Now, if it is desired to increase the lengths of the sheets, the belt 45 will be shifted so that the speed of the left hand cone pulley will be decreased, thereby decreasing the speed of rotation of the sprocket shaft 54, and likewise the sprocket wheels 56 and 57. As a result, the interval of time that it takes for the lug 62 to pick up and start the cutter bar 14 will be increased, and hence the actual cutting operation will be delayed, and therefore, since the sheet continues to be advanced at the same speed, the distance between successive cuts must necessarily be Increased. S1m1- larly by various adjustments of the belt 45,

any desired interval of stopping may be obtained, and thus the sheet lengths may be correspondingly varied to any desired limits.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is manifest that it will admit of various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention, and particularly so may the stop and motion mechanism and slow gearing be applied to the sheet feeding mechanism as readily as to the cutting mechanism. For this and other reasons, I do not wish to be limited except in so far as the invention is specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a, cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter, driving mechanism for said cutter including stop motion mechanism comprising a driving gear member and a driven gear member having intermittent driving engagement with each other, and said driving gear member having positive driving connection with said cutter, and slow motion gearing driven by said driving gear member and having independent driving connection with said cutter, whereby said driven gear member is advanced into driving engagement with said driving gear member.

2. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter, driving mechanism operatively connected with said cutter, and comprisin a driving gear member, a driven gear mem er in positive driving engagement with said cutter, and having intermittent driving en gagement with said driving gear member, and slow motion gearing positively driven by said driving gear member and having independent driving engagement with said cutter, and acting through the medium of said cutter to advance said driven gear member into driving engagement with said driving gear member,

3. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter, a constantly rotative driving gear member, a driven gear member in positive driving connection with said cutter, and having intermittent drivlng engagement with said driving gear member, slow motion gearing driven by said drlvlnggear member, and having independent drlvmg connection with said cutter, whereby the rotation of said cutter advances said driven gear member into driving engagement with said driving gear member during each revolution of said cutter, and means for yarying the speed of said slow motion gearing.

driven gear member in positive driving connection with said cutter, and having intermittent driving connection with said driv ing gear member, mechanism driven by said driving gear member, and having intermittent driving engagement with said cutter, whereby said driven gear member is rotated into driving engagement with said driving gear member.

5. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter, driving mechanism operatively connected with said cutter, means for advancing a continuous sheet of material into the path of said cutter, stop motion mechanism interposed between said cutter and said driving mechanism comprising intermittent driving and driven gear members, and slow motion gearing driven by the driving gear member and operatively connected with the driven gear member.

6. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter, driving mechanism operatively connected with said cutter, means for advancing a continuous sheet of material into the path of said cutter, stop motion mechanism interposed between sa1d cutter and said driving mechanism comprising intermittent 100 driving and driven gear members, slow motion gearing driven by the driving gear member and operatively connected wlth the driven gear member, and means for varying the speed of said slow motion gearing.

7 In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter, sheet feeding mechanism, driving mechanism comprising a constantly rotative driving gear member, a driven gear member 110 adapted for intermittent driving engagement with said driving gear member, and having positive driving connection with said cutter, and slow motion gearin interposed between said driving gear mem er and 115 said cutter, whereby the latter will rotate at a slow speed and carry said driven gear member into driving engagement with said driving gear member from the position of disengagement thereof.

8. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter, stop motion mechanism comprising a constantly rotative driving gear member and a driven gear member having positive 125 driving connection with said cutter, and intermittent driving connection with said driving gear member, slow motion gearing driven by said driving gear member, and having independent driving connection 180 with said cutter, whereby said cutter is rotated from stopped position, and the driven gear member is advanced thereby nto dIlV- mg engagement with said dr1v1ng gear member.

9. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a cutter, dIlV- ing mechanism comprlsing a driven gear member in positive driving engagement with said cutter, a driving gear member adapted for intermittent driving engagement with said driven gear member, and means for rotating said driven gear member into driving engagement with said driving gear member, compris ng gearing positively driven by said dr1v1ng gear member, and operatively connected with said cutter, said gearing including a rotative member adapted to rotate at a greater or less speed than said cutter, and to have intermittent driving engagement therewith, whereby an initial rotative movement is transmitted to said driven gear member to establish driving contact between said driven member and said driving gear member.

10. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter bar, sheet feeding mechanism, driving mechanism operatively connected with saidcutter bar, stop motion mechanism associated with said driving mechanism com prising a constantly rotative driving gear member, a driven gear member having intermittent driving engagement with said driving gear member, and having positive driving connection with said cutter bar, and slow motion gearing interposed between said driving and driven gear members, and means for varying the speed of said slow motion gearing.

11. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of sheet cutting and feeding mechanisms, and means for varying the relative speed of said sheet cutting and feeding mechanisms, comprising intermittently co-actingv-driving and driven gear members, said driven gear member having positive driving engagement with said sheet cutting mechanism, and slow motion gearing interposed between said gear members, including two relatively rotative members provided with co-acting lugs, one of said members being driven at slow speed by said driving gear member and the other having operative connection -with said driven gear member.

12. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of rotative cutters, means for feeding a continuous sheet of material between said cutters, driving mechanism for said cutters including stop motion mechanism comprising a driving gear member, an intermittent driven gear member having positive driving connection with said cutter, slow gearing driven by said driving gear member, and comprising a slow speed gear Wheel loosely mounted on said cutter, and acting to start the same in motion, thereby rotating said driven gear member into driving engagement with said driving gear member.

13. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of rotative cutters, means for feeding a continuous sheet of material to said cutter, a continuously rotating driving gear member, an intermittently driven gear wheel in driving connection with said cutter, a gear wheel loosely mounted upon said cutter, and slow motion gearing operatively connected with said driving gear member for rotating said loosely mounted gear wheel in the same direction as said cutter, said gear wheel and cutter being provided with co-acting lugs arranged to effect the rotation of said outter thereby, and the rotation of said driven gear member in driving engagement with said driving member.

14:. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of a rotative cutter bar, sheet feeding mechanism, driving mechanism for said cutter bar comprising a driving gear member, a driven gear member in driving connection with said cutter bars and having intermittent driving engagement with said driving gear member, slow motion gearing interposed between said driving gear member and said cutter bar, comprising a gear wheel loosely mounted on said cutter bar and having a lug adapted to engage a lug on said cutter bar to rotate said driven gear member into driving engagement with said driving gear member, and speed change gearing associated with said slow gearing.

15. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of sheet cutting and feeding mechanisms, and means for stopping said cutting mechanism for a predetermined interval, comprising frictional driving and driven gear members, said driven gear member having intermittent driving engagement with the driving gear member, and positive drivin connection with said sheet cutting mechanism, and slow motion gearing comprising a gear wheel driven by said driving gear member, and adapted to engage said cutter mechanism when the same is at rest and to rotate the same, the latter in turn acting to rotate said driven gear member into driving connection with said driving gear member.

16. In a cutting machine of the character described, the combination of rotative cutter bars, means for feeding a continuous sheet of material between said cutter bars, a continuously rotating driving gear memher, a driven gear wheel having intermittent drlvmg connection with saiddriving gear member and positive driving connection with said cutter, slow motion gearing operatively connected with said driving gear member and comprising a gear wheel loosely mounted on one of said cutter bars, and r0- tative in the same direction, said gear wheel and cutter bar being provided with co-acting lugs arranged to efiect the rotation of the latter when said driving and driven gear members are out of driving engagement, and to thereby effect the rotation of said driven 10 gear member into driving engagement with said driving member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of May, A. D., 1920.

JOHN M. NORTON. 

